He won the “Hunk Hunt” contest co-sponsored by Playgirl and The Maury Povich Show, graced the June 1993 cover and went on to pursue his PhD. Steven Reinhardt’s life journey reads like a novel: the modeling, the kickboxing, the fatherhood, the professorship… even a shark attack. Now 60, Professor Reinhardt is as fit as he looked on the magazine some 32 years ago. Minus the long hair.
How did the Playgirl photoshoot come about?
My sister entered me in the “Hunk Hunt” contest without telling me. When I was chosen to be one of the contestants on tv, I hesitated to go to The Maury Povich Show, but it was an all-inclusive trip to New York City and I thought it would be nice to spend some time with my sister, we’re really close friends. I ended up winning and was offered a shoot for Playgirl, I accepted. My sister was present most of the time, except during the actual shoot, neither of us wanted that. I don’t remember the photographer, but they made me feel very comfortable, and I didn’t find it awkward. They did suggest that maybe I wanted to “fluff” for the photos, I didn’t know what they meant, they explained, I declined, but in hindsight, after my cousins made fun of me when the issue came out, maybe I should have.
You were 28 then and a “self-described loner” who read quantum physics for fun. Tell us a little more of who that 28-year-old man was: your background, your interests, your dreams.
I had just finished my Master in Biology/Biochemistry, I was thinking about going to med-school but decided to do a PhD in Germany. I took some time off, I was training very hard at the time (boxing/kickboxing), I did some sailing, started modeling more. My overall goal was basically the same as it is today, working on my balance: mind, body, spirit. To excel in all, not just the physical.
How did you approach full-frontal nudity back then? Did you feel immediately at ease with the photographer? And what would you tell a young man, who’s considering posing for the magazine today?
Nudity never bothered me, I guess I was always thinking as an anatomist, saw it as anatomy then and still. The photographer and people on the set made me feel comfortable –it was just a job to them, nothing out of the ordinary. Very nice atmosphere. If a person was to ask my advice for nude modeling, I would ask them how they would feel if their mother, or their children saw the pictures, because they probably will. I know my two daughters have seen them, (and when my mother was alive, she did too and wasn’t very happy about it). And be ready for whatever happens. I lost my job, teaching at a public school. I still can’t teach any primary school in Florida (they sent me a letter saying I was unethical for doing X amount of frontal nude pictures). Don’t expect fame and fortune. But I’m glad I did the Playgirl spread and went on to model professionally –it put me through college. Before modeling, I supported myself bouncing at nightclubs and bodyguarding, and other dangerous jobs (I was shot at twice, stabbed, and in more fights than I can remember).
In 1995 you co-starred in the video Hunks in Hedonism with Man of the Decade Darren Fox, 1994 Man of the Year Doug Koziak and 1995 Man of the Year John Holliday. What do you remember of that video shoot? Did you get along with your co-stars?
It was an amazing trip to Jamaica. The men on the trip were incredibly nice guys, we all got along great. No tension, just fun. We did a lot of different activities outside of the filming: horseback riding on the beach, adventures in the mountains… There was another female modeling job going on at the same time. All the men hooked up with those women, except me.
You also worked with Bruce Weber. Tell us about that. Any more fitness/fashion modeling since?
After the photoshoot with Bruce –it was for Italian Vogue and his personal art collection– my modeling career took off. I did mostly fitness modeling and body shots, landed a few more fitness magazine covers. The money was fabulous, I was always treated very well, I made many friends, and I met many beautiful women. I continued the modeling when I moved to Germany to do my Ph.D.
Fast forward to today: you teach anatomy and physiology in a Florida college. I’ve read the students’ reviews online and most are stellar: how’s your life as a college professor? Has any student ever asked you about your Playgirl spread?
I really enjoy teaching at the college level, more so than at a university where you are expected to do research. I feel I can contribute more to society by teaching, and I feel I can make connections to students who might not see themselves as being life-long learners and change their self-perceptions, help them realize their potential. None asked or brought Playgirl up.
Steven today. Photo courtesy Steven Reinhardt.
What happened between those Playgirl days and the professorship? Anything you’d like to share with the readers? And what has changed in your life, other than the hairdo?
Since the Playgirl shoot, I finished my PhD in Biology/molecular immunology. I had two daughters, their mother and I separated after the first child and I was fortunate enough to be able to stay home and be the caretaker. It was the best time of my life, being both father and mother. I was so consumed with my daughters that I didn’t have a relationship with anyone or even a date, for I guess, 18 years. Very long time to be celibate.
In 2023 you made the news for a shark attack in Juno Beach. How’s your right arm now? How did that experience affect you?
I have always been very active in sports, I still box/kickbox, but now I also coach (USA Boxing certified coach), so I do a lot of cardiovascular training, which includes long runs on the beach and long swims in the ocean. In November of 2023, I was going for a long swim: the ocean was very rough, and as I was running, I noticed lots of bait-fish and tarpons jumping. I thought that it was probably not a good day to swim, but decided to go in anyway. About 20 minutes into my swim, as my right arm entered the water mid-stroke, a shark from underneath bit my arm and pulled me under, shook me, realized that I wasn’t a fish and let me go. I pulled my arm out of the water: it was shredded, it looked like a Halloween prop. I was about 100 yards off the beach, I had to swim back to the shore with my arm out of the water, thinking the shark might come back if I left it in. I had to try and get to shore before I bled out and passed out. Juno beach is very isolated –it’s the reason I run and swim there– but there was one person on the beach, I yelled for her, pulled the waist string from my swimming shorts, asked her to help me tie a tourniquet, and to call 911. I woke up the next day in the hospital after surgery. I’ve been doing my own rehab and I have recovered. I was super lucky to get a great surgeon and to not have lost my arm (or my life).
In your 1993 interview you said: “Maybe I’ll be alone forever.” Are you? Have you found your soul mate?
After being married for a brief time (1 year), we separated and I raised my children alone. I was very busy and I didn’t have time to date, nor did I want to take one minute away from raising my children. But now that both of my daughters are in college, I happened to meet up with an old girlfriend from high school: we have been dating for about a year now, and it’s been great. She’s wonderful.
